"The search for ghosts often takes this form: of a kind of mourning, a working through of grief and loss" http://lgrd.co/2dFlH7m #longreads

Not sure what to publish this week? Join our newest posting challenge, "Animal," and look to the bond between human and animal for inspiration.

[Featured image by Meg Greene Malvasi.]

"I find it interesting how you can find intersections with the most extraordinary lives—as humans, we are always looking for ways to connect."

New Zealand fiction writer and comic artist Sarah Laing, who blogs on WordPress.com at Let Me Be Frank, chats with us about her new graphic memoir, Mansfield and Me.

It's easy to create a website in a few simple steps. Discover how and get started today. #diy #website #blogging http://buff.ly/2cAZEik

"Failure is interesting. It comes in endless variations: professional, personal, comical, stupid, lazy, unexpected – to name just a few... It also makes a good story."

'“Sombreros were made in Panama over 200 years ago, before the arrival of Ecuadorian Panama Hats,” Quiróz explained. He unclipped a hat and held it up, spinning it slowly, as if it were a jewel. “A Panamanian sombrero does not have indentations on the crown like an Ecuadorian Panama Hat. It is made of woven rings sewn together in a spiral,” he said as his finger followed the outline of the brim. He explained that the materials are purely Panamanian: the black rings within the weave get their color from natural dyes used by the Emberá and Wounaan Amerindians of Panama’s easternmost jungle provinces.' #quotes

Publish directly to Twitter in a click! Discover how to connect your website or blog to Twitter using Publicize! #WordPress

The Librarian of Congress, who oversees a collection of 162 million pieces, talks about Abraham Lincoln, overdue books and what she's reading right now

"For me, this time of year makes me think about these orchard trips with my family. Looking at this photo of apples, from the Flying Cloud Apple Orchard in Acushnet, Massachusetts, I can almost taste the cider that was such a treat to drink when I was a child."

Photographers: what kinds of experiences stir emotions for the past within you? Show us in the latest photo challenge, NOSTALGIA.

How to overcome self-defeating resistance and reap the enormous, far-reaching benefits of meditation.

"Sleep, productivity, and creatively are intimately linked."

Meet the man trying to save SeaWorld. (via Fortune, on WordPressVIP)

Venture capitalist Hunter Walk on how technology shapes the changing nature of jobs.

Ads, tip jars, affiliate links... If you've ever thought about monetizing your blog but weren't sure where to start, here are four ideas.

Should you avoid walking if the air is polluted? Grist takes a look.

"A blog can be the perfect opportunity to talk about everything that defines your brand. People who shop for lifestyle products online aren’t necessarily looking only for products. They’re interested in the stories, the histories of those products. A blog can fulfill this need. "

Online store Jaypore blogs on WordPress.com to tell the stories behind their products and to promote the handicrafts of India.

Revisiting Joan Didion's sharp pan of 'Franny and Zooey' on Longreads.

Shivya Nath discusses full-time blogging, solo travel, and why she doesn’t keep a bucket list http://buff.ly/2d5Xdpd

Author Kate Torgovnick May shares seven ways for finding work you love. http://bit.ly/2d5YnRM

"The biggest stumbling block to developing as a fine artist at art school was the total lack of boundaries."